Elevating platform



Nov. 29, 1938; w. E. HAMLIN ELEVATING PLATFORM Filed ont. 6, 1936 Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATE` T OF FICE ELEVATING PLATFORM Application October 6,

Claims.

Zin-multiple cylinder printing presses it is` necessaryfor press men to have ready access to cylinflers and inking. rollers which are `at different elevations fromthe floor. The foot boards are 5. built, .as customary, in unchangeable fixture on the framing near certain cylinders and are in the way ,of othersand inV general inconvenient in operation. of the press. kIn accordance with the presentinvention however, 4a construction is had Whichaifords access readily to cylinders required, asY and -yvhen necessary, and in a manner simple and convenient. Other features vand advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

flothe .accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features lhereinafter fully described, and particularly-pointed out in the claims, the following description and theannexe'd drawing setting forth inr detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these ybeing indicative however, of but a-fewofthe various ways in which the principle ofthe invention may be employed.

vIn said annexed drawing:-

Fig.,1lisaside elevational view ofV an embodiment of the inventionyliig. 2 is ,an enlarged fragmentary detail; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation; and Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional details.

vReferring more Kparticularly to the drawing, there is shown a multiple cylinder printing press P, with, framingy 2 and cylinders 3. YMounted at a higher level, and vin general parallelism with the axes of the cylinders are horizontal shafts 6. Ordinarily being abovev the level of the top of the press, these may be carried in bearings l (see Fig. 3) on suitable points of support, whether built up extensions from the framing or utilization of ceilingbeams 8. Desirably, these are in pairs, androne at least of each pair extends to the floor. Advantageously, steel tubing may be used in the uprights, affordinga maximum strength for size and weight. At a lower level, intermediate on the uprightsmare lower shafts Il, and o-n these are carried bearings I2 to which are secured foot planks I3. Advantageously, these may involve plank members I4 framed in byangle irons I5 and'T irons I6, thereby increasing strength with lightness. At one or both ends of the foot-way, ladder steps I1 are incorporated on the uprights. Means is provided for raising the uprights and structure carried thereby, and while this may take the form of any suitable raising means, a particularly convenient and effective means is a iluid pressure cylinder having a piston or plunger with its rod 2| carrying on its free end 1936, Serial HNS. M4236 (Cl. S04- 29) asheave22, while a cable 23, thereabout extends from a point yof anchorage 2 4 ,(as for instance theadjacentshaft 6) over the sheave,25, which may be mounted on the ,samevshafh the cable thence extending to ,a point of attachment v26, I@ which conveniently maybe van intermediate lower shaft Il.

.By appropriate controlv of the raising means, the uprights 9 with thefoot-fway `I3 may then be raised to Asuch heights as desired, the fluid pressure piston, drawing its sheave-2,2causing the cable Yto take up, thereby raising the associated structurev and-swinging theruprights 9 toward the left in Fig., l, about their upperpivots 6, the footway `beingraised thereby as desired Itvrnay in 15 fact be thus nswungfclear upagainstvthe ceiling or at least high enoughto be entirely out of the way, if required. The control of the uid pressure cylinder 20 may conveniently be a three Way valve 3l) located at a convenient point of com- 2Q mand of the press, and having the connecting pipes 3l, 32 extending therefrom to the cylinder 20. A single valve lever 33 `with pull .chains 34 formsa convenient hand control.

Preferably, the floor-end of each upright 9 which is to restonvthe floorhas. a roller .ball bearing 31, and this may be mounted in a recess in an end foot piece 38, the edges of the recess being sufficiently closed down to preventescape of the ball. Desirably, the foot rpiece 38 is telescopingly mounted with respect to the upright 9, and arranged for limited movement with respect thereto, a springl39 being interposed between an .abutment point, such as a pin 40 in the upright, and the upper end of the spring, the lowerend of the spring abutting Aa shoulder vlll on the foot piece 33. The limitation of movement ofthe footrpiece may be provided by pin `and slot connection, such as a pin 42 in the foot piece extending into slots 43 in the ltubular upright 9. In this manner, the uprights may always properly vseat down on the floor whenin lowermost positio-n. Side-guards 45 may be located above and parallel to the foot board I3, and chains or cable areY convenient kfor this.

AThe operation of the mechanism. will bel clear from; the foregoing. If` thek press :men have to workV on cylinders ratA a positioni above the `floor level, they climb on the foot board I3 and work therefrom, the uprights 9 being in their normal `50 position on the floor. If it is zdesired toy raise the foot board higher, the operator pulls the control cord of the valve lever 33, and admits `fluid pressure through Ithe pipe 3| to the lfluid pressure cylinder. r20, and the piston with its sheave 2| pulls 55 the cable 23 is drawn up fully, swinging the standards 9 and the foot board up entirely out of the way against the ceiling. When it is desired to ylower the standards to normal positionr on the floor, the valve control cord is pulled to allow the pressure fluid to pass out via the exhaust connection 46, and the sheave 22 allows the standards 9 to swing back down against the floor.l Thus, for presses and the like where access is necessary at desired upper levels, effective and convenient arrangement therefor is had, and with the advantage additionally of capabilityv of entire elevation where full access otherwise is desired. p

To guard the piston rod 2| against any slight angular upward or downward dis-aligning pull bythe action of the cable and sheave if exactness of linearrdirection should not be had, a steadying guide for the travel of the sheave-end of the piston rod is provided. While this may be in the form of guides along on the side or below it is usually more convenient to put the guide above. For instance, a channel rail 50 with inturned flanges 5I may constitute a travel-way for rollers 52 whose axle carries a fork 53 on the sheave-end of the piston rrod 2|.

Other modes of applying the principle of' the invention may be employed, Ychange being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

` I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my inventiorn- 1. In mechanism for providing access to maohinery such as printing cylinders and inking rollers, framing comprising a plurality of upperV horizontal shafts mounted in bearings at a higher level than said cylinders, tubular uprights de.- pending from said shafts in pairs, one at least of each pair extending to the floor and containing at its floor end a telescopic foot piece with pin and Yslot connection limiting its rangev of movement with relation to the tubular upright, a spring setting against the upper end of said telescoping foot piece, and a roller ball bearing on the lower endof said foot piece, ylower shafts between pairs of said uprights at an intermediate point in their height, bearings mounted on said shafts, angle and T irons and planks therebetween fastenedto said bearings, side-guards extending between the outside uprights at a level above said planks,

and means for raising the uprights, including a.'

fluid-pressure. cylinder with a plunger and a sheave carried by the free end of the plunger and a cable anchored to one of the upper shafts and extending about said sheave and thence over another sheave on the end upper shaft to a point of attachment on an intermediate lower shaft.

2. In mechanism forproviding access to ma-V Y between pairs of said uprights at an intermediate point in their height, bearings mounted on said shafts, angle and T irons and planks therebetween fastened to said bearings, side-guards ex-Y chineryV such as printing cylinders andinking rollers, framing'comprising a plurality of upper horizontal shafts mounted-in bearings at a higher level than said cylinders, tubular uprights depending from said shafts in pairs, one at least of each pair'extending to the floor and containing at its iioor end a telescopic foot piece with pin and slot connection limiting its range of movement with relation to the tubular upright,aspring setting against the upper end of said telescoping foot piece, and a roller ball bearing on the lower end of said foot piece, lower' shafts between` pairs of' said uprights at an intermediate point in their height, bearings mounted on said shafts, angle and T irons and planks therebetween fastened to said bearings, and means for raising the up'- rights, including a duid-pressure cylinder with a plunger and a sheave carried by the free end of the plunger and a cable'anchored to one of the upper shafts and extending about said sheave and thence over another sheave on the end upper shaft to a point of attachment on an intermediate lower shaft. n l Y' Y 4. In a mechanism for providing access to maV chinery such as printing cylinders, framing comprising horizontal shafts mounted at a higher level than said cylinders, uprights depending' from said shafts in pairs, one at least of each pair extending to the floor, lower shafts between pairs of said uprights at an intermediate point in their height, bearings mounted on saidrshafts, a foot board secured to said bearings, and means for raising the uprights, including a fluid-pressure cylinder with a plunger and a sheave carried by the free end of the plunger vand a cable ex-y tending about said sheave andlarranged to drawthe uprights.

5. In mechanism of the character described,r

main framing, and framing movable alongsideinextending to the floor and containing at its floorV end a telescoping foot piece with'pin and slot connection limiting its range of movement with relation to the upright, a spring setting against the upper end of said tubular foot piece and a roller'ball bearing on the lower end of saidrfoot piece, lower shafts between pairs of said uprights at an intermediate point in their height, bearings mounted on said shafts, foot planks'fa'stened to said bearings, 4and means for raising the uprights, including a fluid-pressure cylinder with a plunger and a sheave carried by the free end rof the plunger and a cable extending about said sheave and arranged to draw the uprights. g

G. In mechanism of the character described, main framing, and framing Amovable alongside including uprights pivoted ata higherlevel thanl said parts, at least a portion of saidfuprights leX-v tending to the floor, self-leveling telescopic footpiece means thereon, foot boards carried by lsaid uprights at an intermediate height, andmeans for raising the uprights. y 'y 7. In mechanism for providingracc'ess to machinery such as printing'cylinders, uprights piVf Y otally' mounted at a higher level than said cyl- CTI - the uprights and foot board, and means for maininders, a foot board carried by said uprights' at a level below said cylinders, means for raising taining said foot board parallel to the oor in all positions.

8. In mechanism for providing access to machinery such as printing cylinders, uprights in pairs pivotally mounted at a higher level than said cylinders, one at least of each pair extending to the floor, foot board means carried by said uprights at an intermediate point in their height, including angle and T irons and planks therebetween, and fluid-pressure means for raising the uprights.

9. In mechanism of the character described, main framing, and framing movable alongside including uprights in pairs, one at least of each pair extending to the oor and having at its lower end a take-up foot piece, foot board means carried by said uprights at an intermediate point in their height, and means for raising the up-` rights, including a fluid-pressure cylinder with plunger and .a sheave carried by the free end of the plunger and cable extending about said sheave and arranged to draw the uprights, and a channel guide-way with inturned anges, guide rollers traveling in said channel on said anges, and a connecting fork between said rollers and the sheave-end of said plunger.

10. In mechanism of the character described, main framing, and framing movable alongside including uprights in pairs pivotally mounted at their upper ends and depending toward the floor, foot board means carried at an intermediate point in the height of said uprights, and means for raising the uprights, including a fluid-pressure cylinder with a plunger and a sheave carried by the free end of the plunger and a cable extending by said sheave and arranged to draw the uprights, guide-way means for steadying the sheave end of the plunger in its travel, and means for maintaining said foot board parallel to the oor in all positions.

WALTER E. HAMLIN. 

